Princeton University Press has just released The Tyranny of Metrics by Jerry Z. Muller, Ordinary Professor of History.
Dr. Muller describes the book as “a critical study of dominant fashions in management, which unlike most books on management takes into account the perspective of the managed.” He argues that a managerial style characterized by what he calls “metric fixation” is damaging contemporary institutions, demoralizing employees, and discouraging initiative. Metric fixation is based on the belief that the most important elements of human performance can and should be measured (metrics), and that the results should be rewarded or punished, either in the monetary form of pay for performance, or the form of public rankings and ratings. His book traces the origin of this style of management, why it has become so popular, and why it is so often dysfunctional. It also offers advice on how and when to use measurement without falling prey to metric fixation.
The book arose out of his long-time interests in the history of capitalism and public policy, but was stimulated by his sole experience as a manager, when he served as chair of CUA’s Department of History and was exposed to the growing demand for measures of “assessment” in higher education. The book is based on his synthesis of work from a variety of disciplines (economics, psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior), and covers K-12 education, higher education, medicine, business, policing, and military affairs.
After time devoted to book talks and other forms of publicizing the book, Dr. Muller plans to finish a work combining biography with the intellectual history of the twentieth century, tentatively titled Jacob Taubes: Merchant of Ideas and Apostle of Transgression, which will also be published by Princeton University Press.
The Department of History will celebrate the publication of The Tyranny of Metrics with a book launch on March 21 where the book will be discussed by Steven Pearlstein of George Mason University, a Pulitzer Prize winning business columnist for the Washington Post. Check the “Events” section of our website for further details.